Manufacture of matches.



F. MNGE & M. J. T. BALS.

MANUFAOTURE 0F MATCHES.

APPLIUAQIION FILED SEPT. 4, 191s.

Patented June 30, 1914,

o.. WAJHINOTON D c UWTED STATES PATENT OFFlCE.

FRDRIC MANGE AND MAXIMILIAN JOSEPH THEODOR BALS, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

License,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-,0d Jun@ 30, 1914,

Application filed September 4, 1913. Serial No. 788,134.

IAN Josemi Trmooon BALS, a subject ot the German Emperor, both residingat Paris, France, have invented certain new and uset'ul improvements in.the Manufacture of Matches, of which the following is a specitication.

The present invention has reference to improvements in the manufactureot matches, and it relates more particularly to a procedure according towhich match-wood splints of a length of two or `more matches aresuitably bundled-up and are then severed into bundles of single matchlength in such manner that the cut ends are roughened or frayed for thepurpose of enabling them to more readily take up the impregnating andtipping compositions. The bundles ot' single match length are thensuitably impregnated and tipped, if desired at both ends,`

and are opened-up for boxing just prior to the ensuing drying processbeing completed.

The invention will now be described in detail, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l shows a side View of adevice for clamping the match-wood splints during the cutting operation;F ig. 2 shows a front view thereof.

According to our invention a plurality of splints oit match-wood, eachof a length of two or more mat-ches of ordinary size, are bundled-up indirect lateral contact with each other and held in this compacted statein any suitable manner, for instance by wire or other ligatures beingplaced around, or by being blocked within a clamping device, such asshown, by way of example, in Figs. 1 and 2.

This device consists of a housing `l, into which are equidistantlyfitted the frames 2, whose top members `3 are vertically adjustablethereon by means of the hinged lockbolts 4. The bundle or block ofmatches 5 is placed in said frames which grip it at intervals of a matchlength apart and for as many match lengths as there are clamping frames(nine in the drawing), and the splint strips are then severed intosections of match length by being cut or sawed, the knives or saw bladesentering between each two frames 2, either successively orsimultaneously. Or 'the splints are pressed into a suitable compactingdevice, and are then successively presented thereby in sections ofsingle match length; whereupon each such section is tied-np, wired orframe-clamped,

and then severed from themain bundle. During the cutting operation wooddust works into the inter-sticos between` the individual splints, whichis a very valuable teaturc, inasmuch as now the impregnating and tippingingredients cannot penetrate :tar between the splints, which greatlyreduces the amount oit' the compositions required for preparing a given.number of mat-ches compared to the old procedures. Furthermore thesawing operation tends to roughen or fray the splint ends, which greatlyenhances the lap'acity of the wood for absorbing the respectivecompositions, and 'for this Ypurpose it has been found of advantage touse dulled cutting tools for severing the sections from the main bundle.The thus severed small bundles, which are still held compacted by thewire hoops or the clamping frames, are now subjected to a temperature ofabout l2()o for from (S-S hours. They can then be primed with a thinpaste of flame transmitting medium, for instance powdered sulfur in gumtragacanth solution. When aspen or several other American woods areused, it sutlices to saturate the roughened vflame ends oit' the splintswith solutions of oxygen carriers, t'or instance chlorate oil potash ingum tragacanth solution. Next, a suitable, thin but glucy ignitingcomposition is applied in well known manner. Comparatively little of thecomposition will adhere to the frayed splint ends, owing to the latterbeing held close together and the siitod-in wood dust preventing thecomposition -irom creeping along the splints. The tipped bundles arethen dried in suitable manner. Just prior to completed drying thebundles are opened-up by removal of the tying means, for separating theindividual matches for further manipulations. The falling-apart of thebundle into single matches will readily take place owing to the ends ofthe splints swelling-up by the taken-up liquid, which in connection withthe tying-up means causes strong tensions being set up in the bundle.The loose matches are then left to complete their drying, withoutfurther heat having to be applied. The matches are now ready for boxing,an operation which will proceed very quickly, owing to the fact that thematches will show no appreciable thickening or lengthening at the tippedends,

and owing to this absence of enlarged heads or tips a considerablygreater number of these matches can be packed into a given box thanwould be possible in the case of the old style matches with globular-lyextending tips.

What We claim is l. That improvement in the art of mat'chmaking whichcomprises assembling long splints of match Wood into direct lateralcontact With each other to form a bundle, binding-up such bundle atmatch length intervals, severing the bundle into sections of a matchlength between such bindings, applying chemicals to the ends of thetightly bound together splints the application of the chemicals toindividual splints being restricted to the end Jface of the splint bythe proximity of the adjacent splints and unloosening the binding beforethe chemicals have completely dried or set.

2. rIhat improvement 'in the art of matchmaking which comprisesassembling long splints of match-Wood into direct lateral contact witheach other to form a bundle, binding-up such bundle at match lengthintervals, severing the bundle int-o sections of a match length betweensuch bindings in such manner as to make rough or frayed the severedsplint ends, applying chemicals to the ends of the tightly boundtogether splints, the application of the chemicals to individual splintsbeing restricted to the end face of the splint by the proximity of theadjacent splints and unloosening the binding before the chemicals havecompletely f dried and set.

In testimony whereof We aiiiX our signal tures in the presence of twoWitnesses.

raiDERic Miren. MAXIMILIAN JOSEPH THEODOR BALS.

l/Vitnesses:

Hanson C. Corni, JOHN BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

